DEI example Lesson

3YO-2nd: Discuss how are you different from your classmates (if your class is having trouble coming up with differences, you might start a discussion about different names, traditions, family members, etc.). Why it is important to have lots of different kinds of people in a class or community (introduce the word community if it is unfamiliar to the students)?

 

3rd-8th: As a class, discuss why it is important to have lots of different kinds of people in a class community (introduce the word community if it is unfamiliar to the students). What would be the disadvantages if everyone in the class were the same? Why do you think diversity is important in your class and in the world?

difference something that is not the same about two or more people or things; something that makes two or more people or things unlike each other

community a group of people who share something, like an interest, goal, or living or working space; a group of people who cooperate and learn to work together

diversity the condition of having or being composed of different elements; variety, especially the inclusion of different types of people (as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization

Essential Questions: What is diversity? How is diversity experienced in different ways? 

How can we respectfully express curiosity about the history and lived experiences of others and exchange ideas and beliefs in an open-minded way?

(3 minutes) Listen while the book It’s Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr, is read out loud.

 

3YO-2nd: As a class, brainstorm three reasons it is good to be different or diverse. What advice would you give to another student who was feeling this way? To finish, share with a partner or draw a picture about what you will think about or do next time you feel different. Recommended Video (3min) “We Are All Alike, We Are All Different”

3rd-5th: Differences are important in every community, not just in classrooms. At home, talk with your family about what you learned from Todd Parr’s book. Discuss ways members of your family might sometimes feel different from each other, and talk about how this diversity can help make your family stronger. When you come to school the next day, write in your journal about what you learned from discussing these themes at home.  Share your journal entry with a classmate or with the whole group. Recommended Video (2min) “How Kids See Differences”

 

6th-8th: Think about how diversity influences our interpersonal relationships as we learn how to express ourselves with people who are similar to and different from us.  Can you think of a time you have had difficulty expressing your differences, or a time you have seen others have difficulty expressing differences?  Spend 15 minutes journaling about this time, and brainstorm ways in which you might have respectfully expressed your own differences or respectfully helped others do so.  What strategies can help us express curiosity about the history and lived experiences of others and exchange ideas and beliefs in an open-minded way? Share your journal entry with a classmate or with the whole group. Recommended Video (6 min) Diversity and Inclusion: Lessons In Friendship and Love